![]() His style of performing, his physical style, began to create a controversy in the minds of some people.īy the time he did the show, we did all the shows live then, there was a great deal of tension. I was just then starting my Sunday-night comedy series for NBC (which ran opposite the Ed Sullivan Show), and I instructed my people to book him. But I happened to catch it just by accident, and I immediately saw a quality of strangeness about him. And therefore the world really didn't notice that one of the guests one night was Elvis, totally unknown at that time. I watched it a couple of times because I liked big-band music, but it wasn't a very popular show in terms of ratings. Steve Allen: In 1956, the summer replacement for the Jackie Gleason Show was a musical show that the Dorsey brothers did. Like I used to say when I introduced one of his songs: 'There have been a lotta tough guys. Nothing will ever take the place of that guy. It was horrible and, at the same time, it was fantastic. He just embodied the essence of it and he was in mortal combat with the thing. To me, he was as big as the whole country itself, as big as the whole dream. He thought I was just another crazy fan - which I was. Why don't you let me walk you down to the gate. Because I figure I've gotta get a message through. Well, now I'm pullin' out all the cheap shots I can think of - you know, I was on Time, I play guitar, Elvis is my hero - all the things I never say to anybody. I said, 'Is Elvis here?' He said no, he was in Lake Tahoe or somewhere. And I was almost at the front door, just getting ready to knock, when I see this guy looking at me from the trees. So I climbed over and started up the driveway it's a long walk 'cause the house is set way back. It was three a.m., but all the lights in the house were on. ![]() When we got to the gate, I looked through. They didn't know who I was, but they were pretendin' to, you know? He told the dispatcher we were going to Elvis' house he was crackin' up because the dispatcher thought we were gonna drink coffee with Elvis. We got.' and he shoves the mike in my face, so I say, 'Bruce Springsteen'. Do you mind if I call the dispatcher and tell him where we're going?' So he calls the guy, says, 'We got some celebrities here. I said, 'You gotta take me to Elvis' house'. So he said he'd take us out along the highway, by Elvis' house. He said, 'Are you guys celebrities?' Yeah. We told the cab driver, take us some place quiet. When we played Memphis, we decided we wanted to get something to eat after the show. Onstage, he encompassed everything - he was laughing at the world, and he was laughing at himself, but at the same time, he was dead serious. Of course, he was also into rockin' his ass, but that was part of it. He was an artist and he was into being an artist. ![]() When I heard the news it was like somebody took a piece out of me. He was so incredibly important to me, to go on and do what I want to do. Bruce Springsteen: I could not imagine that guy dying.
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